Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011980
The Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP), listed under Assistance Listings (CFDA) 10.246, is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its core purpose is to strengthen the nations capacity to conduct food and agricultural sciences research by helping eligible institutions pay for major research facility projects. In practical terms, the program supports bricks-and-mortar and major capital improvements that expand or upgrade the physical infrastructure needed to carry out research in the food and agricultural sciences, as that field is defined in federal statute (7 U.S.C. 3103).
RFAP funding can be used for a wide range of facility-related activities tied to agricultural research, including construction of new research facilities as well as alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of existing facilities. The emphasis is on enabling or improving research capabilities, not simply general campus improvements, so applicants should be prepared to show how the proposed facility work directly supports research objectives in agriculture, food systems, veterinary and animal health research (where applicable), forestry-related research, and other qualifying areas under the statutory definition.
Eligible applicants are specific categories of institutions and related entities that participate in the national agricultural research infrastructure. These include 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103. The program also allows applications from Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) that meet the formal designation requirements, Insular Area Institutions that meet the Higher Education Act definition of an institution of higher education, and institutions eligible under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act. In addition, accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine (or State Agricultural Experiment Stations) that conduct animal health and disease research consistent with section 1433(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) are eligible. Finally, other entities that are eligible under a capacity and infrastructure program (as defined in section 6971(f)(1)(C), referenced in the NOFO appendices) may also apply, which broadens eligibility to certain additional organizations tied to those federally recognized capacity programs.
Several key compliance and submission rules shape how institutions should plan an application. NIFA is explicit that applicants must meet every eligibility and application requirement in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) by the deadline; missing eligibility criteria can lead to removal from consideration or make an award impossible. The program also restricts institutions to a single application as the lead applicant, including applications coming from subordinate units under a larger parent institution, meaning internal coordination is essential so the institution submits only one consolidated proposal. On top of that, recipients may only hold one RFAP award at a time: an institution with an active RFAP award is not eligible to receive another RFAP award until the active one is no longer in place. Institutions are encouraged to work through their sponsored projects office to manage internal selection processes and confirm compliance with these limits.
There are also policy restrictions on the type of research connected to proposed facility projects. USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants or cooperative agreements that are submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. Applicants planning facility work connected to high-consequence pathogen research or similar areas should pay close attention to this restriction and ensure the proposed facility purpose does not fall into prohibited categories.
From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is identified as USDA NIFA OP 011980. NIFA expects to make about 30 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $30,000,000 per award. The opportunity closing date listed is 2026-07-24. Importantly, institutions that have previously received congressionally directed funding (often referred to as earmarked funding) for research facility projects are not barred from applying; they may still submit an RFAP proposal and compete for additional facility projects under this competitive program.
Overall, RFAP is best understood as a competitive federal facility-investment program aimed at upgrading and expanding the specialized infrastructure that agricultural research depends on. Strong applications will typically be those that clearly connect the proposed facility project to concrete research needs in the food and agricultural sciences, demonstrate that the institution meets the specific statutory eligibility category, and show that the project is ready to execute within the programs rules and federal grants requirements.Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011980
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Facilities Act Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.246.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP) FAQs
What is the Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP)?
The Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP) is a discretionary grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is listed under Assistance Listings (CFDA) 10.246 and is designed to strengthen the nation's capacity to conduct food and agricultural sciences research by helping eligible institutions fund major research facility projects.
What is the main purpose of RFAP funding?
RFAP supports major facility projects that expand or upgrade the physical infrastructure needed to carry out research in the food and agricultural sciences as defined in federal statute (7 U.S.C. 3103). The focus is on research-enabling infrastructure rather than general campus improvements.
What kinds of projects can RFAP funds be used for?
RFAP funding may be used for construction of new research facilities and for major capital improvements to existing facilities, including alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, remodeling, or similar facility-related work, as long as it is tied to qualifying food and agricultural sciences research needs.
Does RFAP fund general campus or non-research facility improvements?
The program emphasis is on enabling or improving research capabilities, not simply general campus improvements. Applicants should be prepared to show how the facility project directly supports research objectives in qualifying areas.
What research areas are considered relevant for RFAP?
RFAP is intended to support facility work that directly advances research objectives in agriculture and food systems and may include related areas such as veterinary and animal health research (where applicable), forestry-related research, and other qualifying areas that fall under the statutory definition of food and agricultural sciences in 7 U.S.C. 3103.
Who is eligible to apply for RFAP?
Eligibility includes specific categories of institutions and related entities, including:
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations
- 1862 Land-Grant Institutions
- 1890 Land-Grant Institutions
- Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103
- Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) that meet formal designation requirements
- Insular Area Institutions meeting the Higher Education Act definition of an institution of higher education
- Institutions eligible under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act
- Accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine (or State Agricultural Experiment Stations) conducting animal health and disease research consistent with section 1433(c) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3195)
- Other entities eligible under a capacity and infrastructure program as defined in section 6971(f)(1)(C) (referenced in the NOFO appendices)
Can non-land-grant institutions apply?
Yes, Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) may apply if they meet the formal designation requirements described for that category.
Are Insular Area Institutions eligible?
Yes. Insular Area Institutions may apply if they meet the Higher Education Act definition of an institution of higher education.
Are forestry-related institutions eligible?
Institutions eligible under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act are included among the eligible applicant categories described for this opportunity.
Are veterinary medicine schools eligible?
Yes. Accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine (or State Agricultural Experiment Stations) that conduct animal health and disease research consistent with section 1433(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) are eligible.
What is the program identifier for this opportunity?
The opportunity is identified as USDA NIFA OP 011980.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expects to make about 30 awards under this opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $30,000,000 per award.
What is the application deadline?
The listed closing date for this opportunity is 2026-07-24.
How strict are the eligibility and submission requirements?
NIFA states that applicants must meet every eligibility and application requirement in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) by the deadline. Missing eligibility criteria can result in removal from consideration or make an award impossible.
Can an institution submit more than one RFAP application in the same cycle?
No. The program restricts institutions to a single application as the lead applicant. This restriction also applies to applications coming from subordinate units under a larger parent institution, so internal coordination is necessary to ensure only one consolidated proposal is submitted.
Can an institution hold more than one active RFAP award at a time?
No. Recipients may only hold one RFAP award at a time. If an institution has an active RFAP award, it is not eligible to receive another RFAP award until the active award is no longer in place.
What does RFAP recommend for internal coordination and compliance?
Institutions are encouraged to work through their sponsored projects office to manage internal selection processes and to confirm compliance with the one-application and one-active-award limits, as well as all other NOFO requirements.
Is there any restriction related to dangerous gain-of-function research?
Yes. USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants or cooperative agreements submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. Applicants should ensure the proposed facility purpose does not fall into prohibited categories.
What if a proposed facility supports high-consequence pathogen research?
The information provided notes that applicants planning facility work connected to high-consequence pathogen research or similar areas should pay close attention to the dangerous gain-of-function restriction and ensure the project does not fall within prohibited categories.
Can institutions that previously received congressionally directed (earmarked) facility funding still apply?
Yes. Institutions that previously received congressionally directed funding for research facility projects are not barred from applying and may still submit an RFAP proposal and compete for additional facility projects under this competitive program.
What makes an RFAP application competitive based on the program description?
Based on the opportunity description, strong applications typically (1) clearly connect the proposed facility project to concrete research needs in the food and agricultural sciences, (2) demonstrate the institution meets an eligible statutory category, and (3) show the project is ready to execute within the program rules and federal grant requirements.
Where is the statutory definition of "food and agricultural sciences" referenced?
The program references the federal statutory definition in 7 U.S.C. 3103 for what qualifies as food and agricultural sciences.
What document governs the detailed application rules and requirements?
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is identified as the governing source for eligibility and application requirements, and applicants are expected to meet every requirement in the NOFO by the deadline.
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